Custom optical windows

Precision Optical Windows in Any Shape, Made in Rye

Kingsview Optical is an optical window manufacturer for OEMs, instrument makers and research labs. We make custom windows in virtually any shape, from micro windows for endoscopy to large windows for machine vision. We CNC edge them from your STEP file, twin-lap polish them flat and parallel, and AR coat them to your wavelength, all at our site in Rye, East Sussex.

  • Made in Rye, East Sussex
  • Any shape from a STEP file
  • AR coated in-house
  • ISO 9001:2015
Send Your Window Drawing See the Specification
Optical windows loaded into twin-lap polishing carriers at Kingsview Optical, optical window manufacturer UK
Windows going into a twin-lap carrier, Harbour Road, Rye.
Any shapeCNC edged from your STEP file
<10″Parallelism on twin lap
λ/4 flatStandard flatness at 633nm
Since 1996Making optics in the UK
Windows made here, start to finish

From Glass Plate to Coated Window, in Rye

Every stage below happens at our site in Rye. You deal directly with the engineers who make your windows, with one set of quality records from blank to finished part.

Kingsview Optical LtdHarbour Road, Rye
East Sussex TN31 7TE
  1. CNC edging an optical window blank at Kingsview Optical

    CNC Edging

    Send us a STEP file from any CAD package. Our CAD/CAM CNC edger cuts complex outlines, steps, chamfers and holes routinely.

  2. Twin-lap polishing machine for optical windows in Rye

    Twin-Lap Polishing

    Both faces are polished at once between top and bottom plates, for flatness and parallelism better than 10 arcseconds.

  3. Loading optical windows into a coating holder at Kingsview Optical

    In-House Coating

    We coat in our own chambers, with AR coatings designed for your wavelength, so there's no wait on an outside coating house.

    Optical coating
  4. Disco dicing saw used to cut small optical windows to size in Rye

    Dicing Small Windows

    Small rectangular windows can be cut from a coated plate on our Disco dicing saw, giving clean edges and consistent sizes in volume.

  5. Zygo interferometer measuring optical window flatness in Rye

    Measured Before It Leaves

    We check flatness on our 4″ Zygo interferometer and coating performance on our spectrophotometer, with reports available on request.

Every photo on this page was taken at our site in Rye.

Window types

Custom Optical Windows We Manufacture

Every window is made to your drawing, in the shape, material and coating your system needs. Each drawing shows the face and edge of the window.

edge
Round windowsProtective, sensor and viewing windows
edge
Rectangular and square windowsDisplay, camera and detector windows
edge
Custom profilesAny outline from your STEP file, with holes or notches
edge
Wedged windowsA slight wedge to avoid interference fringes and back-reflections
edge
Stepped windowsA machined step for simple, repeatable mounting
micro
Micro windowsTiny windows for endoscopes and compact devices
edge
Filter-glass windowsCut from Schott filter glass such as KG5 or NG1
edge
Laminated windowsA film, such as a polariser, cemented between two plates
edge
Toughened windowsThermally toughened on site, subject to part size
Coated optical flats and windows made by Kingsview Optical
Coated flats and windowsMade in Rye
Filter-glass window cut to shape by Kingsview Optical
Filter-glass window cut to shapeMade in Rye
Laminated optical window with polariser film made by Kingsview Optical
Laminated polariser windowMade in Rye
Large-format precision optical window under inspection light
Large-format windowMade in Rye
Materials

Choosing a Window Material

The right substrate depends on your wavelength, environment and budget. If you're not sure, tell us how the window will be used and we'll recommend one.

Optical glass (Schott, Ohara, CDGM)The usual choice for visible-light windows. Wide range of glasses, good value.
UV fused silicaFor good UV transmission or high heat resistance, and low thermal expansion.
SapphireFor the toughest environments. Very hard, scratch resistant and chemically resistant. Sapphire windows can be supplied.
Schott filter glassWindows that also filter, such as KG heat-absorbing glass or NG neutral density glass. See KG filter glass and UG filter glass.
Other materialsMost other substrates can be catered for. Ask us about yours.
Who we work with

Windows That Protect and Pass Light in Other People's Systems

Our customers are engineers who need a window to seal, protect or filter part of an optical system, without degrading what passes through it.

Medical & EndoscopyMicro windows for endoscopes and imaging instruments.
Machine VisionLarge windows for camera enclosures and inspection systems.
Defence & SecurityProtective windows for sighting and imaging systems.
Laser SystemsAR-coated and wedged windows for laser optics.
Scientific InstrumentsWindows and flats for laboratory and research equipment.
Sensors & DetectorsCover windows that protect sensors while passing the right wavelengths.
Specification

Optical Window Specification

These are our standard tolerances. If your design needs tighter, tell us which parameter. We'll tell you honestly whether we can hold it, and what it adds to cost.

ShapesRound, rectangular and custom profiles from your STEP file
Size rangeMicro windows for endoscopy through to large machine-vision windows
Dimension tolerance±0.1mm
Flatnessλ/4 @ 633nm
Parallelism (twin lap)Better than 10 arcsec
Surface quality (scratch-dig)60/40
MaterialsSchott, Ohara and CDGM optical glass; UV fused silica; sapphire; Schott filter glass
CoatingsBroadband AR designed to your wavelength, V-coat, single-layer MgF2, custom designs
Edge finishingChamfers, steps, holes and blackened edges
TougheningThermal toughening on site, subject to part size

Not sure what to specify? Flatness and parallelism tighter than your system needs are the most common hidden cost in a window quote. Send the design and we'll help you check.

See Your Windows Being Made

Planning a production run, or qualifying a new supplier? Come to Rye, see the CNC edging, twin-lap and coating, and meet the engineers who would make your windows.

Arrange a Visit

Optical Window FAQs

What do you need to make a custom-shaped window?
A STEP file, which you can export from any CAD package, plus a drawing showing thickness, tolerances, material, coating and quantity. Our CAD/CAM CNC edger works directly from the STEP file, so complex outlines are routine.
How flat and parallel can you make a window?
Our standard flatness is λ/4 at 633nm. On our twin-lap polishers, parallelism is better than 10 arcseconds. If you need tighter, tell us the figure and we'll confirm what we can hold.
Which window material should I choose?
For visible light, optical glass from Schott, Ohara or CDGM is usually the best value. Choose UV fused silica for UV transmission, high heat or low thermal expansion. Choose sapphire for harsh environments where scratch and chemical resistance matter. Choose a Schott filter glass if the window also needs to filter.
Does my window need an AR coating?
An uncoated glass window reflects about 4% of the light at each surface, so you lose about 8% and can get ghost reflections. For imaging, lasers and low-light sensors, an AR coating designed for your wavelength is usually worth it. We coat in-house.
Why would I need a wedged window?
Two perfectly parallel faces can create interference fringes and back-reflections, which matter in laser and interferometric systems. A slight wedge between the faces stops that.
Can you toughen optical windows?
Yes. We offer thermal toughening on site. It's limited by part size, so send us your window details and we'll confirm whether it can be toughened.
Do you make micro windows?
Yes. We make micro windows for endoscopy and other compact devices, as well as large windows for machine vision.

Other Optics We Make

Optical lensesSinglets and achromats Optical prismsRight angle, penta, Dove, roof, Risley Optical mirrorsMetal and dielectric Optical filtersSputtered bandpass and more

Getting a Quote for Custom Optical Windows

Send us your STEP file or drawing. An engineer from the team that would make your windows, not a sales team, will review it. They'll tell you plainly what's achievable and what will drive cost.

What to send

  • STEP file and drawing (PDF or ISO 10110)
  • Material, or how the window will be used
  • Thickness, flatness and parallelism tolerances
  • Coating requirement and wavelength range
  • Quantities: prototypes and expected production volumes

What happens next

  1. An engineer reviews itWithin one working day, flagging anything that will drive cost or lead time.
  2. We quote the windowFor the prototype, and for production at your volumes.
  3. We make, measure and deliverAll in Rye, with inspection data if you need it.
Start Your RFQ

Need a Custom Optical Window?

Send your STEP file or drawing. We'll tell you honestly how we'd make it, what it will cost and how long it will take.

Send Your Window Drawing Call 01797 226202
Made in Rye, East Sussex. NDA-friendly. Defence and security work welcome. ISO 9001:2015.